ABSTRACT
Mice have been domesticated for centuries, even millennia, and have been used in scientific research since the 1600s. However, development of the laboratory mouse as a research model really began with genetic experiments in the early 1900s. Today, the laboratory mouse is recognized as the preeminent model for modern genetic research. Mice are also used in a variety of other types of research, including cancer, immunology, toxicology, metabolism, developmental biology, diabetes, obesity, aging, and cardiovascular research. They are prized for many qualities, including their small size, short generation time, and ease of breeding within the laboratory. The fact that they are genetically the best characterized of all mammals increases their value for all fields of study.
